G.O. 7.01 - Barricaded Persons

Administrative Details

  • Document: Norwich Police Department General Order 7.017.01 (Section 77 – Special Operations)

  • Original Issue Date: 09/24/2009/24/20

  • Accreditation Standards referenced: POSTC 1.5.3b; 1.5.15; 1.7.9; 1.13.9; 2.5.9; 3.3.30; 3.4.11; 3.4.12; 3.4.131.5.3b;\,1.5.15;\,1.7.9;\,1.13.9;\,2.5.9;\,3.3.30;\,3.4.11;\,3.4.12;\,3.4.13

  • Rescinds prior directives; applies strictly to departmental administration (no higher civil standard established)

  • Violations:

    • Departmental violations → administrative sanctions

    • Violations of law → potential civil / criminal penalties in court

Purpose (I.)

  • Establishes structured guidelines for handling:

    • Hostage situations

    • Barricaded suspects/subjects

    • Any crisis posing imminent danger to human life

  • Goal: maximize safety of hostages, bystanders, officers; facilitate safe apprehension of suspects

Policy (II.)

  • Every tactical incident judged individually; response scaled to facts & evidence

  • Hostage-takers considered desperate; if they escape, continuing risk persists

  • Priority of Life doctrine governs operational choices (see Definitions)

  • Immediate tactical response authorized for: overtly dangerous behaviour, active assault, serious-felony suspects

  • After stabilization, command weighs benefit of forcing surrender vs. potential costs (injury, escalation, legal exposure)

Definitions (III.)

  • Barricaded Suspect

    • Criminal; occupies space inaccessible to officers; refuses orders; may be armed/unknown weapon status

  • Barricaded Subject

    • Non-criminal (suicidal, mentally ill); otherwise same physical posture as suspect

  • Cordon: establishment of inner/outer perimeters

  • Crisis Negotiators: trained members of Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT)

  • Crisis Situation: any incident with violence/potential violence where officers at disadvantage or danger exists to self/others

  • Hostage Situation: suspect holds person, believed armed, to compel demands

  • Hot Zone: radius where injury/death expected

  • Safety Priorities (Priority of Life):

    • 1️⃣ Hostages

    • 2️⃣ Innocent civilians

    • 3️⃣ Police officers

    • 4️⃣ Suspects / subjects

  • Tactical Operator: SWAT-trained officer

Procedure (IV.)

A. Hostage & Barricaded Situations / Emergency Response Team
1. Initial Notification & Response

  • Communications responsibilities:

    • Dispatch patrol & supervisor

    • Notify Shift Commander on request

    • Maintain separate incident log

    • Restrict radio traffic / move to alternate talk-group

    • Notify CNT, Detective Division, Chief, other support groups

  • First responders urged to avoid confrontation until tactical / negotiation assets arrive

2. First Officer on Scene

  • Determine nature; relay info; request clear radio channel

  • Contain, detain witnesses, estimate back-up needs

  • Provide exact incident location & unit requirements for inner perimeter

  • Direct safest access routes

  • Render aid / evacuate wounded as necessary

3. First Supervisor on Scene

  • Formally assume command; declare over radio

  • Evaluate situation; confirm or adjust back-up

    • If immediate lethal threat: request Tactical & CNT; attempt containment + de-escalation

    • If no time for Tactical arrival and lives at risk: coordinate immediate action

  • Identify whether barricaded suspect vs. subject → dictates resources, warrant/involuntary committal prep

  • Begin written log; brief Shift Commander via secure channel; debrief initial units

  • Establish inner & outer perimeters; clear hot zones

  • Create Command Post & Staging Area:

    • Between perimeters, out of line of fire

    • All arriving personnel report in for briefing

  • Direct:

    • No firearms/chemical use unless imminent life threat or IC authorization

    • EMS / fire / surveillance assets to staging

  • Deploy & record personnel:

    • Cover exits/escape routes (out of suspect’s fire)

    • Vehicle & pedestrian control

    • Maintain deployment list

  • Intelligence gathering assignments:

    1. Exact suspect/subject location

    2. Weapons available

    3. ID & physical/mental condition

    4. Purpose/demands

    5. Crimes committed

    6. Injury threat in non-criminal cases

    7. Hostage description & condition

    8. Detectives begin warrant or involuntary committal process

4. Call-Out Procedures

  • Negotiators: supervisor summons immediate CNT response whenever barricade/hostage/kidnap occurs

  • Tactical Units / CSP ERT: Shift Commander may request; Norwich PD leverages Connecticut State Police SWAT or other multi-jurisdictional ERT

5. Command Operation (Incident Commander – IC)

  • Assign ICS roles; ensure communication line with crisis principal

  • Liaison with Tactical Commander for backup & tactical planning; request mutual aid if needed

  • Consider evacuation of surrounding structures

  • Tactical Commander directs actual tactical operations; ERT Commander reviews plan incl. chemical agents

  • IC duties:

    • Update Communications re manpower, suspect, hostages

    • Detective supervisor contacts State’s Attorney

    • Handle press until PIO arrives

    • Evaluate danger to hostages/officers/citizens; confirm perimeter adequacy

    • Notify Chief & PIO; all media releases pre-approved by on-scene commander

    • Establish mobile reserve, additional ICS support, pursue/surveillance vehicles, secure travel routes

    • Take any other actions to resolve safely

7. Coordination Among Teams

  • IC maintains coordination among:

    • Command/OIC

    • Tactical (incl. snipers)

    • CNT

    • On-scene Patrol/Investigators

    • Communications

    • Other components

  • Goal: prevent misunderstandings, ensure safety, facilitate success

8. Press Procedures

  • Media allowed access consistent with safety & law-enforcement needs

  • No entry to inner perimeter

  • Media corralled to designated area; all requests via PIO

9. Reports (Post-Incident)

  • IC (or designee) collects all logs, audio/video, photographs

  • After-action report to Chief must include:

    1. All incident reports

    2. Written logs

    3. Photographs

    4. Scene diagram

    5. Tactical critique

    6. Suggestions for correcting errors/deficiencies

10. General Instructions for Responding Officers

  • Report to Command Post/Staging; no self-deployment

  • Maintain strict control of assigned post; prevent suspect escape

  • No individual action unless ordered or failure jeopardizes life

  • Emergency vehicles shut off lights/siren at safe distance

  • Confirm radios on proper channel/talk-group

  • Conduct containment & necessary evacuations

  • Minimize radio traffic; unassigned units stay clear

B. Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) Training Requirements

  • Basic negotiator course: 40 hours40\text{ hours} before functioning as primary negotiator (may assist prior)

  • Annual in-service training: minimum 40 hours40\text{ hours} each year

  • All training documented; records kept by CNT supervisor

  • Joint training with Tactical Team: minimum 8 hours8\text{ hours} annually

C. CNT Selection Requirements

  • Candidates chosen from formal application roster based on:

    • Sufficient time-in-service (length defined by agency)

    • Satisfactory performance history

    • Acceptable physical fitness

    • Confidence of existing team members in candidate’s ability

  • Ongoing performance standards apply to all ranks

  • Voluntary withdrawal anytime permitted

  • Removal possible by team leadership consensus with Chief approval; former members may reapply

Ethical / Practical Implications & Real-World Connections

  • Priority of Life principle embodies ethical hierarchy; reinforces duty to protect innocents first

  • De-escalation focus aligns with modern policing best-practice & reduces liability

  • Structured command (ICS) prevents ad-hoc actions, enhancing officer safety and judicial defensibility

  • Training & selection standards for CNT mirror recommendations from FBI, NTOA, ensuring professional competency

  • Media controls balance transparency with operational security and victim safety

Numerical & Statistical References (Embedded)

  • Original Order number: 7.017.01

  • Basic negotiator course: 40 hours40\text{ hours}

  • Annual CNT in-service: 40 hours40\text{ hours}

  • Joint CNT/TACTICAL training: 8 hours8\text{ hours} (minimum, once per year)

Key Take-Away Flow (Quick Reference)

  1. Receive call → Dispatch patrol + supervisor, restrict radio traffic, start separate log

  2. First officer → Contain, info relay, treat wounded, specify perimeter needs

  3. Supervisor → Assume command, establish perimeters, command post, gather intel, summon CNT/ERT

  4. IC → ICS roles, liaison with Tactical, evacuation decisions, media & Chief notifications

  5. Negotiators / Tactical deploy → maintain clear communications & Priority of Life

  6. Post-incident → Collect evidence/logs, write after-action report, initiate critique

(These notes comprehensively mirror the full General Order content, capturing every critical element, definitions, procedures, training metrics, and policy rationale necessary for exam preparation.)